Farewell Summer 2009

I’m struggling to bid farewell to summer 2009. It’s not just a season change; it’s a lifestyle change. Summer has been a perfect balance of travel and staying home, of hot days and cool days, visiting with family and friends and being with just the 4 of us. It is wonderful, calm, simple, peaceful.

July was eventful. The first week we had a “staycation” with Lara and Amelia at their beautiful home that overlooks the Puget Sound. Amelia and Owen (with Eli tagging closely behind) made balls fly and coaches giggle during tennis lessons at the Tacoma Lawn and Tennis Club. We went to several parks, a fantastic farmer’s market, the children’s museum and my kids saw their first movie in a theater! Although the dogs are a bit frightening in 3D, UP! is a sweet little movie.

The week culminated with the big 4^th of July Parade in the Stadium Neighborhood where Lara and John live. Ryan came up to join us for all the 4^th festivities which also included a delectable bbq (even for a vegetarian) and fireworks on the sound. It was a sweet ending to a perfect week together.

Just a short week later, the boys and I boarded a plane to visit Granny Mo and the rest of the family in Chicago. I can’t get enough of my dear Grandmother who is 90 years young. Her beauty and happiness are marvelous. I miss the days I could listen to her stories all day long. Two active boys don’t allow much time for that anymore, however they added their own spice to the trip. Running, kicking, throwing, racing, jumping their way through the lawns of grandparents, aunts, cousins, friends and dogs in the Chicagoland area. They soaked in the experience of riding on a plane and meeting new people (mostly family) every day.

Two special highlights of the trip this year were (1) meeting up with Gabi and LeeAnna, 2 friends from 7^th grade when I lived in Chicago and (2) miniature golfing with my sister-in-law, Julie, and nieces and nephew. Wish we lived closer so we could do it more often!

Four days after returning from Chicago we packed up the camping gear and headed to Detroit Lake for the annual family campout. Even though we return to the same place, even the same campsite, each year holds a special memory. This year Oregon was under an intense heat wave with temperatures around 106. To escape the scalding temperatures we headed up the nearby Breitenbush River. Ryan’s cousin, Karina, introduced us to a dreamy little nook with a rocky beach right on the river. In between naps in the shade and searching the shore for treasures, Owen, Eli and Ryan built their bicep muscles by throwing thousands of rocks into the crystal clear mountain run off. I enjoyed cooling my feet off chatting with the cousins and reading.

We returned to our home in August exhausted and relieved that the summer’s major travels were finished. We spent the rest of summer with visits from out of town friends, evening walks to the park while the summer sun was setting, bowling, hanging at Aunt Christine’s, playing in the sandbox, experiencing the Tillamook County Fair, hanging with Steph and the kids, sprinkler time, going to the library, visiting Nana’s vegetable garden, home projects, home projects, oh did I say home projects?

Life goes on, things change, times change. School year hustle and bustle begins. Routines firm up. Schedules are followed. A new rhythm for the family. A new beat. Bye, bye summer; for now. We will see you again soon.